Vertical

Vertical data tables should have their headings placed in the first row of the table.

When using a vertical data table, you will typically place the manipulated (or independent) variable in the far left column. The responding (or dependent) variable(s) come next.

Here is an example of a simple vertical data table…

An example of a vertical data table

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS WHEN MAKING VERTICAL DATA TABLES

If your data table is drawn by hand then the lines of your table must be drawn with a ruler.

IMPORTANT: The column or row headings should be exactly the same as the x- and y-axis labels that you place on your graph(s).

Try not to split a data table from one page to the next. If you must do this, make sure that you have headings for all of the columns.

Always center the data in the cells of the table. If you have decimal points in your data, be sure to align those in the cells too.

If you collected data expressed with decimal points, the data within a single column should be to the same number of decimal places, for example, 1.23; 1.20, 1.00, 1.85.

Never use commas (“,”) as your decimal points. Always use a ‘full stop’ or period (“.”).

When needed, don’t forget to include the proper SI units (e.g., “meters,” “minutes,” “grams,” etc.) in the column or row headings. Never include the units with the numeric values within the data table.

DATA TABLE TITLES

The titles of your data tables should be concise and informative.

Be sure to start the title of your data tables with a number, for example, “Table 1” and “Table 2”. These numbers should match the numbers that you use for your graphs, for example, “Graph 1” should be made from the data found in “Table 1.”

Time travel is possible…

Time travel is possible…

About the Site

Dr. Merritt

Although this site primarily aims to assist and support middle and high school science students and teachers, others are more than welcome to peruse (and use) it, of course. The design, content, and maintenance of SCIENCEsEDiment.com is the work of Brett Merritt, Ph.D., who encourages all site visitors to understand deeply, think critically, act creatively, pursue passionately, relate ethically, & use wisely. Dr. Merritt is an American educator and researcher who lives and works in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland (Ticino).